Six-wheeled sensations

Four wheels good, so six wheel has to be even more fun.

That was certainly the thinking when the designers of these multi-axle machines put pen to paper. Whether its form, function or just non-conformity you’re after, nothing says it with more gusto than half a dozen wheels on your wagon. So, here’s our pick of the best tri-axle machines from the past and present.

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Panther 6

‘Extravagant’ is the word that sums up the Panther 6. Everything about this six-wheeled boulevardier was over the top, with the exception of production numbers as only two were every completed despite a claimed 15 orders generated from its 1977 London Motorfair launch. Conceived by Robert Jankel and designed with help from GM’s Wayne Cherry and Geoff Lawson, it employed a twin-turbo’d Cadillac 8.2-litre V8 mid-mounted under a hydraulically lifted canopy.

That powered the single rear axle with a claimed 600bhp, while the front pair of axles both steered. Performance and handling, however, took second place to comfort and the 6 was said to ride with remarkable smoothness. Yet a price tag of £39,950 it was 50% more than a Ferrari 512BB, hence only two Panther 6s ever made it out of the factory.

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Dodge T-Rex

Making a car’s name fit a catchy acronym doesn’t often work, but the Dodge T-REX fits the bill perfectly. So, this is the Technology Research EXperimental vehicle and its ability to devour any kind of terrain made the title more than deserved. It paired an 8.0-litre V10 engine with full 6x6 capability and a 2.6-metre (102in) long load bed.

At the front was a standard 1997 Ram pick-up cab, but the ride height could be raised by as much an addition 10cm (4in) for extreme off-roading. Sadly, the T-REX went the way of its namesake and died out before it reached production.

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Range Rover SLT

If owning a super yacht isn’t enough ostentation for you, then the Range Rover SLT is just the six-wheeled ticket to get from ship to shore-based destinations. Based on the current Range Rover and offered with all of the original car’s engine options, this stretched behemoth Superyacht Land Tender was launched at the 2018 Monaco Yacht Show and was built by German luxury boat designer T-Fotiadis.

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Tyrrell P34

Tyrrell’s Project 34 caused a sensation in Formula 1 thanks to Derek Gardner’s innovative twin-front axle design. This was no hare-brained scheme, though, as Gardner worked out four small wheels at the front would offer increased grip combined with reduced aerodynamic lift, so the car could run with less downforce and hence less drag.

Goodyear made the 10-inch tyres in complete secrecy and then the P34 made it race debut in the 1976 Spanish Grand Prix. It showed immediate promise, but it took until its fourth outing to win, scoring a one-two at the Swedish GP. Lack of tyre development put an end to the P34 in 1977, but the remaining cars continue to be successful in historic racing.

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Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6

If you want to look down on every other school run SUV, the Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 is the car you need. Not only does it sit on half a dozen 37-inch tyres, it’s 272mm (11in) taller than a standard G63 with a mere four wheels. And it’s 225mm (9in) wider and 1106mm (44in) longer, so it dwarfs just about anything you’ll encounter on the road.

As for off-road driving, the all six wheels are powered and there are five differential locks to make sure you keep moving on even the worst terrain. That’s the least you can expect when this six-wheeler costs from £370,000 in the UK Never officially sold in America, one was up for sale for nearly US$1m in 2016.

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Citroën CX Loadrunner

The Citroën CX Loadrunner was the fastest hauler in the business when it came to delivering newspapers. In pre-internet days, printed news still needed to be distributed over long distances and the stretched six-wheel CX was ideal thanks to strong diesel engines and its smooth suspension.

Coachbuilder Pierre Tissier was charged with building the Loadrunners and he did it by cutting the CX in half and making a bespoke chassis to carry the extra axle. Glassfibre bodywork was then added and the lengthy wagons were a common nocturnal sight across France throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.

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Covini C6W

Like the Panther 6 that preceded it, the Covini C6W took its inspiration from the Tyrrell P34, so it has two axles at the front and a single unit at the rear. It’s been an on and off project since the 1970s, but is currently alive and available to buy if you have sufficient funds for the US$400,000 asking price.

For that, you get six wheels, a 434bhp 4.2-litre Audi V8 engine and a two-seat cockpit with convertible roof, while top speed is claimed to be 185mph.

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Kahn Defender Flying Huntsman

British custom firm Kahn Design has never been shy about pushing the boundaries with its bespoke cars and the Defender Flying Huntsman takes the Land Rover to new levels. For starters, it comes with six wheels instead of four and all are powered to give maximum off-road traction. To accommodate the extra back axle, the Huntsman is lengthened by 1200mm (47in) and it’s also 150mm (6in) wider to deal with the fat tyres.

Under the bonnet lies a 6.3-litre V8 liberated from Chevrolet with 430bhp, so the Kahn gives the Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 a run for its money. Ah yes, and the Flying Huntsman will set you back from around £250,000 (US$325,000).

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Williams FW07D

Modern Formula 1 cars could have been very different beasts if the Williams FW07D had come to full fruition. Early promise of this six-wheeler, which used two sets of driven wheels at the rear rather than Tyrrell’s double front axles, saw it match its conventional four-wheeled sister for lap times.

It also offered better aerodynamics by making the most of the contemporary rules on downforce, but a ban in 1983 on four-wheel drive and six wheelers killed off the FW07D before it had a chance to even compete.

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Carmichael Commando/Highlander

There was a ready market for six-wheel conversions based on the Range Rover throughout the 1970s and ’80s. Many went to buyers in the Middle East where these big beasts could use their off-road ability and luxury to full effect. British-based convertor Carmichael led the way with its Commando and Highlander models, which both stuck with four-wheel drive and a non-driving third axle.

By spreading the weight over six wheels, off-road dexterity was improved and these cars proved very popular with fire services at airports and remote locations. The Highlander was a fully kitted out passenger car and retained its full Land Rover warranty.

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Foers Ibex 6x6

Foers Engineering is well known in 6x6 circles for its amazingly able Ibex models. Many are used by fire services, foresters and farmers who need the go-anywhere traction of six-wheel drive, while the long load bed is ideal for all manner of working needs.

There have been a variety of Land Rover-sourced engines used in the Ibex over the years, but the current models have a Ford 2.4-litre turbodiesel motor and six-speed manual gearbox with low-ratio transfer transmission.

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Hustler

Hustler was the brainchild of designer William Towns and his angular range of cars resulted from an aborted project with Jensen. Seeing the possibilities of the modular design, Towns marketed the cars himself, including several six-wheeler versions such as the 6, Huntsman and Highlander. Most were front-wheel drive with power from the Mini’s A-Series engine.

However, the Huntsman was based on the Jaguar XJ12 complete with its V12 motor to offer a serious, if left-field, alternative to a Range Rover.

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Hennessey VelociRaptor

The Ford F-150 is the best-selling vehicle in the USA, but Hennessey has taken it to an altogether more exclusive level with the VelociRaptor 6x6. For starters, there’s six-wheel drive with 20-inch wheels and bespoke Fox off-road suspension. You also get a 600bhp twin-turbo V8, Brembo brakes and hand-stitched interior, as well as additional lights and bull bars to complete the intimidation of all other road users.

All you need to enjoy this six-wheeler is the asking price of $349,000.

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Devel Sixty

For fans of six-wheelers who might have concerns over personal security, the Devel Sixty is an armoured off-roader sporting three axles. It uses military spec kit for the wheels, tyres, bodywork and two winches, as well as coming with night vision as standard. Inside, it’s kitted out like a private jet and comes with seating for the driver and five passengers.

A 6.7-litre V8 turbodiesel takes care of powering the Devel and this US-made machine can hit 60mph from rest in 5.8 seconds.

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Trekol

The name tells you all you need to know about this Russian 6x6. It can cope with any terrain it’s possible to drive on and it can reach the bits other off-roaders can’t thanks to its amphibious ability. Half a dozen huge balloon tyres give it the buoyancy to float and it can also deal with swamps, snow, sand or deep mud.

The number of tyres and their size mean it treads more lightly than a human on delicate ground, which also means the Trekol is used to cross frozen lakes in Russia with up to six occupants. For such a large and capable vehicle, it features a modest 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine with 130bhp - it's not the power that matters, but how you use it.

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Argocat Frontier

The name Argocat might not be familiar but the firm’s amphibious 6x6 vehicles are instantly recognisable. They’ve been in use anywhere there’s challenging ground since 1967 and a blend of balloon tyres and tough plastic bodywork makes them ideal.

To drive, the Argocat is more like a tank as it uses handlebar steering which also gives it incredible manoeuvrability. On land, the 747cc air-cooled engine gives a top speed of 22mph, while on water it can hit a giddy 3mph.

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Saab 906

A Saab 900 saloon is not the obvious starting point for a six-wheel conversion, but then Leif Mellberg isn’t your average custom builder. He’s already been involved with several other one-off Saab cars, such as the EV1 prototype and 900 Speedster, so the 906 wasn’t such a leap for this designer. He took the turbocharged saloon, added 60cm to the overall length to accommodate the second rear axle and flared the wings to make it 18cm wider than the standard 900.

The load bay was vast and easily fitted in the fridge-freezer, heated cabinets, stereo with 16 speakers and television with video that Mellberg wanted. Sadly, it ended up in scrapyard in Varberg, Sweden.

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